Match Preview

It’s our third game this week in this crazy end of season period as we travel up to Slimbridge in the Southern League West Division.

Slimbridge vs Bideford
Evo-Stik League South – West Division
Saturday 21st April 2018
3:00pm kick off
Thornhill Park, Cambridge, Gloucestershire

A Brief History of Slimbridge AFC
Slimbridge AFC were founded back in 1902 and played local level football throughout the 1900s mostly in the Stroud & District League. Slimbridge joined the Gloucestershire County League for the 2001/02 season and finished as runners-up. They were promoted to Hellenic League Division One West and were champions in their first season. A step up to the Hellenic Premier Division followed in 2003/04 and after three top five finishes The Swans were crowned Hellenic League champions in 2006/07. However due to internal problems in the club they could not join the Southern League as planned and were forced to resign from their position in the Hellenic League. Slimbridge took the place of their reserve team in the Gloucestershire Northern Senior League. Successive promotions saw The Swans back in Hellenic League Division One West in 2009/10 which they won for a second time at the first time of asking. After three top six finishes in the Hellenic Premier, Slimbridge transferred to the Western League Premier Division in 2013/14 but finished 16th. A season later they were promoted to the Southern League after finishing 3rd. In their first season in Division One South & West Slimbridge finished 18th and then 20th in 2016/17.

Slimbridge AFC
Thornhill Park
Wisloe Road
Cambridge
Gloucestershire
GL2 7AF
Tel: 07702 070229
Web: http://www.slimbridgeafc.co.uk
Twitter: @slimbridgeafc

Form Guide
After making a decent start to the season, Slimbridge have struggled from November onwards and sit 20th in the West Division (W8 D8 L23). Although not mathematically safe from relegation, they are eight points clear of Bishops Cleeve with three games left so are almost there. The Swans have only won three games in 2018, most recently a 4-2 success over Larkhall. They suffered a dreadful defeat on Thursday night at Cinderford so will be looking to bounce back quickly and end their season on a high note.

Slimbridge’s last six (LDLWDL)
19/04/18 Cinderford Town 9 Slimbridge 0 (League)
14/04/18 Yate Town 1 Slimbridge 1 (League)
12/04/18 Slimbridge 4 Larkhall Athletic 2 (League)
07/04/18 Slimbridge 1 Swindon Supermarine 3 (League)
28/03/18 Slimbridge 2 Barnstaple Town 2 (League)
24/03/18 Slimbridge 3 Didcot Town 6 (League)

After their worst run of the season, Bideford have now equalled their best run of the campaign of four straight victories over Larkhall, Paulton, Kidlington and North Leigh on Thursday night. Despite the crazy schedule due to many rearranged games, Bideford are making a great fist of trying to reach the playoffs. Thursday’s win put them up to 7th (W19 D9 L10) and just two points outside of the playoff positions with up to two games in hand.

Bideford's last six (LLWWWW)
19/04/18 Bideford 2 North Leigh 0 (League)
16/04/18 Kidlington 1 Bideford 2 (League)
14/04/18 Bideford 2 Paulton Rovers 1 (League)
07/04/18 Larkhall Athletic 0 Bideford 1 (League)
02/04/18 Bideford 0 Taunton Town 1 (League)
31/03/18 Evesham United 3 Bideford 0 (League)

Previous meetings
28/10/17 Bideford 3 Slimbridge 1 (Southern Div 1 West)
08/04/17 Slimbridge 2 Bideford 0 (Southern Div 1 S&W)
14/01/17 Bideford 1 Slimbridge 0 (Southern Div 1 S&W)